JDW pub blasted on TripAdvisor: 'Worst experience ever'

Complaints: customers took to the review site to vent their frustrations (image credit: Jaggery)

A JD Wetherspoon (JDW) pub has been slammed on the review site for its décor as well as serving cold food and one user claimed he was asked to leave after visiting with his dog.

Users gave the Perkin Warbeck in Taunton, Somerset, one-star reviews and criticised various aspects of the pub.

One user – Katrina W – gave the pub a one-star rating, titled her review as “worst Wetherspoon experience ever” and said: “Having two older children, 15 and 12, we often go to Wetherspoon because they have something for everyone.

“I get it’s half term and busy but the food was the worst ever! Cold curry and naan is not nice. Also ordered triple chicken feast and only two items chicken were served. Must try harder!”

Another user was unimpressed with the pub’s recent refurbishment. Peter G said: “The attractive upstairs lounge overlooking the church has been removed to be replaced by an open smoking area."

Canteen-like

He added: “Comfortable chairs gone and have been replaced by numerous high stools, extra seating to that everyone is packed in.

“All more canteen-like. Have visited several times since the pointless work has been done but the two coffee machines have failed each time and yesterday, both together.

“Also you now have to queue twice! No hot chocolate now so my son refuses to visit any more. Think I’ll follow suit.”

User Andrew R left a one-star review and criticised the pub’s dog policy: “After ordering meal, member came up and said ‘you will have to leave as no dogs allowed on premises’!

“Was given a full refund by manager, I pointed out that there were no signs at entrance to premises that ‘no dogs allowed’."

Dog policy

The review continued: “Manager said, I quote, ‘it’s in their policy’. Maybe these policies should be placed where the public can read them. On finding their policies online, I read that Wetherspoon establishments have a beer garden where smokers can go! Maybe it’s time Wetherspoon invited ‘dogs’ to this area.”

JDW spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “The Perkin Warbeck is an extremely popular pub and staff work hard at all times to ensure that it is run to the highest of standards.

“It serves thousands of people each week and there will always be cases, as in any business, where some people are not satisfied with their visit.

“However, the fact that it is always packed out shows that the vast majority of people thoroughly enjoy visiting the Perkin Warbeck and enjoy the atmosphere and the food and drink on offer.

“While we take on board some of the criticism on TripAdvisor, it is a minority view.”